I'M HOME...BUT IT HURTS

Hello everyone, thank you so much for your kind words and prayers during and after my surgery on the Jan 24th. I left the hospital late evening of Jan 26th. I wanted to share this with all the soon-to-be post ops, because it is not going to feel good or comfortable at all. They were late to start off with performing my surgery. I was told I was under the anesthesia for about 6 hrs, due to some type of equipment failure one after the other at the hospital, even though my actual surgery went very well. I will speak on that issue later regarding the hospital. AT HOME - At first I couldn't tell the actual pain/discomfort from a GAS PAIN. Other things that will cause great pain: Coughing, Sneezing, Belching, Laughing, Moving.. I began popping pain meds at first and would be out for the count After awaking I would still feel that God awful bubbly/gasey feeling right below my breasts and sometimes in the middle of my stomach area. I would push on the areas and I could hear/feel the rumbling; sometimes belch; actually doing a lot of belching much to my surprise. And, it will not go away, not by Gas-X or Benefiber, NOT ANYTHING I have stopped using as much pain meds, since I now know that this is GAS PAIN. Plus it puts you out so quick, who wants to be sleeping all the time. I was scratching my swollen tummy a lot, but this seems to have subsided. Can't suck my tummy in even if I tried!! I'm usually in a bent over position walking very slowly and holding my hand over my sore spots. The abdominal binder is another blessing, because I think I would be crawling instead of walking w/o it. I feel as if I would just let out a BIG Belch or a BIG Fart I would feel much better. I now know TIME will be the only healer of this discomfort and I welcome TIME to come and visit me real soon. Food/Ciggy's would be a great comfort to me right now, but since I stopped smoking and food does not have the same appeal, OMG We are all going to need support from the long-time losers and the to-be losers. We don't mean to be whiney, but this GAS really hurts bad, I truly now understand why OH'ers were always saying "wishing you a speedy recovery"

Toni, I completely, 100%, absolutely agree with you about the gas pain! It was the worst part of the recovery! Even if you have to be bent over, walk, walk, walk - even if it is just from one end of the house to the other. I won't lie - it took over a week for me to get rid of the gas pain. I'm dealing with the food situation right now, too. I'm bored with food already. Thankfully, in addition to being wife, mommy, and fulltime worker, I have this wonderful hobby called "being a senior in college" that is keeping me busy and keeps me WAY away from the fridge. I now have a totally DIFFERENT kind of "full plate" I wish you luck and send you prayers for a "speedy recovery" Amanda 266/240/healthy

Hi Amanda - Thanks for your kind and understanding words. I'm walking more and more, and I know even though it's killing me, it is helping... If I had such the full plate life you have right now, I don't know if I would be able to make under the current conditions, however, give me a few months and I would love to be in your shoes...

You hit the nail on the head with EVERYTHING you said. I feel exactly the same way. The gassy, belching, bulging, crappy feeling sucks!!! I was in alot of pain the first day due to the gassy thing. After they took me off of the morphine and on to the oxycontin/codone it was like day and night. I was on a lot of pain meds before so they had to get out the big guns for this! Thats why I had the surgery is to get off the pain meds! I went in at 6AM Monday the 24th and came home Wednesday morning at 11AM. That night I had my first gasser and I called my sister to tell her cause I was so happy. I didn't have a bowel movement until yesterday (Friday) morning. Mazn what a relief. Haven't been able to eat much at all. Don't even seem to really care if I do. My doc said he doesn't care if I eat anything for 2 weeks as long as I drink at least 2 quarts of clear liquids a day (1/2 which should be water). I do that faithfully. Don't want any complications. Feel free to right to me if you'd like. I will be here every day at some point. Take care and good luck. My thoughts are with you. Jan

Jan - Thanks for your reply. I never would have known GAS causes this much pain. I even had my first BM yesterday, but this did not help either. Everything I eat seems to intensify the already annoying pain until I can't tell what foods my new tummy is sensitive to. I am walking more and it does provide temporary relief until I eat something again, and then I'm right back to square #1. Prayer and walking I do believe will be the saving grace through it all.